Transformer mounting assembly

ABSTRACT

A transformer mounting assembly embodying a pair of horizontal band units adapted for attachment to a supporting pole in vertically spaced relation. Horizontally spaced adaptor plates are carried by the band units and have vertically spaced attaching means disposed to cooperate with differently spaced mounting lugs on transformers.

United States Patent 1191 Johnson 1 Aug. 7, 1973 [54] TRANSFORMER MOUNTING ASSEMBLY 3,374,978 3/1968 Salmon et al. 248/221 2,996,277 8/1961 Hoffman 248/221 [761 Eugene f 'l 3626 5th 2,910,261 10/1959 Ward et al. 336/67 x South, Blrmmgham, 35222 2,879,964 3/1959 Anderson et al.. 248/221 [22] F June- 26, 9 3,653,622 4/1972 Farmer 248/22] [21] Appl. N0.: 266,160 Primary Examiner-Thomas l gozma A ttorney-I-lugh P. Carter, and Woodford R. Thomp- 52] U.S. c1 248/221, 248/230, 336/67 at [51] Int. Cl Fl6m 13/02 [58] Field 61 Search 336/65, 66, 67, 68; [57] {*BSTRACT 248/221, 230; 174/148; 211/107 A transformer mountmg assembly embodymg a pan of horizontal band units adapted for attachment to a sup- 5 References Cited porting pole in vertically spaced relation. Horizontally UNTED STATES PATENTS spaced adaptor plates are carr1ed by the band un1ts and 2 76] 643 9/1956 w d t I 248/221 X have vert cally spaged attaclnngmeans d1sposed to coar e a 2,990,151 6,196] Phillips u operate wlth differently spaced mountmg lugs on 3,530,996. 9/1970 Schaffer 248/221 X Ormers' 1 Claim, 4 DrawingFigures /L 5-3 anon: .\\\\\\\\\\\\l :1\\\\\\ 4 A I I z 54 5/ 54 Z PAIENTED AUG 7 m sum 1 2 TRANSFORMER MOUNTING ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a transformer mounting assembly and more particularly to an assembly for mounting a cluster or bank of transformers on a support unit prior to lifting the entire bank of transformers at one time, thus eliminating the necessity of mounting support brackets on the pole first and then raising the transformers one at a time.

Heretofore in the art to which my invention relates, difficulties have been encountered in mounting transformers due to the fact that it is the usual practice to first secure mounting assemblies to the supporting pole and then lift each transformer separately, thus greatly increasing the cost of installation since mechanized lifting equipment cannot be used. Such prior art supports for clusters of transformers often require the construction of platforms between supporting poles or require a multiplicity of separate parts which not only add to the complexity of the assembly operation but also are extremely heavy, thus making itdifficult for linemen to carry and then install such equipment when working on rear property lines.

Difficulties have also been incurred in replacingor changing transformers on existing supports due to the fact that the entire supporting structure must be changed in order to accommodate the mounting lugs on the transformer to beinstalled. This not only requires a considerable amount of time and labor in changing the supporting assembly for the transformers but also necessitates the'provision of several different assemblies which are adapted to accommodate differently spaced mounting lugs on transformers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A In accordance with my invention, I provide a composite unit which permits the installation of all transformers on the ground'whereby the entire cluster or bank of transformers may be lifted at one time. Also, I provide adaptor plates having vertically spaced attaching means thereon which permits the transformer mounting assembly to accommodate transformers having differently spaced mounting lugs without the use of additional structural members, such as channels or the like. This not only reduces the overall cost of the mounting assembly but also greatly reduces the weight and the time required to install the assembly. Furthermore, my improved assembly is adapted to be attached to a supporting pole without the necessity of providing holes through the pole for receiving securing bolts and the like.

I DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS sembly secured to a supporting pole,'the .pole being shown in section;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view taken generally along' the line 2-2 of FIG. 1

FIG. 3 is an elevation'al view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. l,'pa'rts being broken away and in section; and,

FIG. 4 is an elevational view taken generally along the lines 4- -4 of FIGS. 1 and 3, parts being broken away and in section.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of my invention, I show my improved apparatus supporting transformers 10 11 and 12 from a supporting pole 13. As clearly shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, the transformers are supported by band units 14 which are attached to the supporting pole 13 in vertically spaced relation to each other. The upper and lower band units 14 extend in horizontal planes parallel to each other, as shown.

Each band unit 14 comprises a strap-like member 16 which is bent adjacent the longitudinal center thereof, as at 17, to provide a generally concave pole engaging surface 18. As shown in FIG. 1, the ends of the strap like member 16 are bent laterally at 19 and 21 to provide end portions 22 and 23 which extend alongside and in spaced relation to the sides of the supporting pole l3.

Secured rigidly to the end portions 22 and 23, by suitable means, such as by welding at 24, are vertically extending adaptor plates 26 and 27, respectively. Secured rigidly to the strap-like member 16 adjacent the longitudinal center thereof by welding as at 28 is a U-shaped bracket 29. The base of the U-shaped bracket 29 extends in a vertical plane to provide a third connector plate 31 which extends parallel to the connector plates 26 and 27. As shown in FIG. 1, the connector plates 26, 27 and 31 are' spaced horizontally from each other to support the transformers 10, 11 and 12 in angularly spaced relation about the supporting pole 13.

As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, vertically spaced attaching means is provided on each of the adaptor plates 26, 27 and 31. The attaching meansis shown as comprising outer and inner openings 32 and 33 through the adaptor plates .which are adapted to receive retaining bolts 34 which pass through suitable openings 36 provided in upper and lower mounting lugs 37 and 38, respectively,

carried by the transformers, asshown. As shown in FIG. 2, the mounting lugs 37 and 38 for the smaller transformers 10 and 11 are spaced closer to each other than the mounting lugs 37 and 38 for the larger size transformer 12. That is, the transformers 10 and I1 havemounting lugs 37 and 38 which are spaced approximately 12 inches apart while the mounting lugs 37 and 38 for the larger size transformer 12 are spaced 24 inches apart. Accordingly, the small size transformers 1'0 and 11 are secured by bolts 34 which pass through theinnermost' openings 33 while the bolts 34 securing the larger transformer l2 in place pass through the outermost openings 32. That is, the adaptor plates 26, 27 and 31 extend inwardly toward each other when assembled, as shown in FIG. 2, whereby the openings 33 are positioned l2-inches apart and the outermost openings 32 are positioned 24 inches apart. It will thus be seen that with the bands 14 in the position shown in FIG. 2, the smaller size transformer IO or ll couldbe replaced by a larger size transformer having mounting lugs 37 and 38,24 inches apart by removing the securing bolts 34 from the innermost openings 33 provided in the connector brackets and thenpassing the securing bolts 34 through the outermost openings 32 and the mounting lugs 37 and 38 of the larger size transformer. In like manner,the larger size transformer 12 may be replaced with asmaller size transformerby removing the retaining bolts 34 from the outermost openings 32 and inserting the same through the innermost openings 33 in the mounting lugs 37 and 38 of the smaller size transformer. It will thus be seen that the attaching means or outermost openings 32 which are spaced further from each other cooperate with mounting lugs 37 and 38 which are spaced a greater distance apart while the attaching means or openings 33 which are spaced closer to each other cooperate with the mounting lugs 37 and 38 which are spaced closer to each other.

The strap-like member 16 carrying the horizontally spaced adaptor plates 26, 27 and 31 is attached to the supporting pole 13 by providing longitudinally spaced openings 39 in the strap-like member 16 for receiving elongated bolt-like members 41 and 42 which are adapted to extend along opposite sides of the supporting pole 13. A strap-like element 43 having an opening 44 adjacent one end thereof receives the end of the elongated bolt 41 and is attached thereto by a retaining nut 46. A strap-like element 47 having an opening 48 therethrough receives the end of the elongated bolt 42 and is attached thereto by a retaining nut 49. The other ends of the strap-like elements 43 and 47 having suitable openings S1 and 52 therethrough, respectively, for receiving an elongated threaded member 53 which is retained in place by nuts 54, as shown in FIG. 1. Accordingly, the strap-like member 16 is secured firmly to the supporting pole 13 by the strap-like elements 43 and 47 and the elongated bolts 41 and 42, together with the elongated threaded member 53. This attachment of the mounting assembly to the supporting pole 13 eliminates entirely the necessity of having to provide holes through the supporting pole for receiving retaining bolts and the like. This not only saves time and labor but also provides a stronger supporting pole due to the fact that the pole is not weakened by drilling holes therethrough. By providing a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings 39 through the strap-like member 16 for receiving the elongated bolts 41 and 42, my improved mounting assembly is adapted for attachment to supporting poles of various sizes.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved transformer mounting assembly will be readily understood. The larger and smaller size transformers are attached to the adaptor plates 26, 27 and 31 by attaching the mounting lugs 37 and 38 of the smaller size transformers to bolts 34 which pass through the innermost openings 33 provided in the adaptor brackets. The mounting lugs 37 and 38 of the larger size transformers are secured to the adaptor plates by bolts 34 which pass through the outermost openings 32 provided in the adaptor plates. When it is desired to change the size of a transformer or replace a transformer with a different size transformer, it is not necessary to remove the mounting assembly from the supporting pole. That is, it is only necessary to remove the transformer to be replaced and then install a different size transformer with the openings 32 being employed to receive retaining bolts 34 for the larger size transformers and the openings 33 receiving the retaining bolts 34 for the smaller size transformers. It will thus be seen that by providing the vertically spaced openings 32 and 33 through the adaptor plates 26, 27 and 3], transformers having differently spaced mounting lugs may be readily installed on the ground and then lifted as a composite unit by mechanized equipment to the supporting pole whereupon the entire assembly is then attached to the supporting pole as described hereinabove.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that l have devised an improved transformer mounting assembly which greatly facilitates the installation of transformers or the replacement of transformers. By providing a composite assembly which is adapted for attachment to the transformers on the ground prior to lifting the entire assembly to operating position on the pole, my mounting assembly is particularly adapted for use with mechanized equipment, thus eliminating the necessity of having to install the various components of the mounting assembly on the pole and then having to lift each individual transformer separately to its operating position. Also, by providing vertically spaced attaching means on the adaptor plates adapted to accommodate mounting brackets of various size transformers, a transformer may be removed from the mounting assembly and another transformer of a different size mounted thereon without having to remove the mounting assembly from the pole. Also, by providing a mounting assembly which is extremely light in weight as compared to prior art supporting structures, my mounting assembly is especially adapted for rear properly line work where it is often necessary for the linemen to carry the mounting assembly through rough terrain and great distances.

By providing a transformer mounting assembly which is simple of construction and requires a minimum of parts to be attached to the supporting pole, l eliminate entirely the possibility of improper installation of the equipment and at the same time greatly reduce the overall cost of the mounting assembly.

While I have shown my invention in but one form, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof.

What I claim is:

1. In a transformer mounting assembly for supporting transformers having differently spaced mounting lugs,

a. a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally extending strap-like members disposed to extend along one side of a supporting pole with each strap-like member being bent adjacent the longitudinal center thereof to provide a concave pole engaging surface and being bent laterally adjacent the ends thereof to extend alongside and in spaced relation to the sides of said pole,

b. an adaptor plate carried by each laterally bent end of said strap-like members with a third adaptor plate mounted adjacent the longitudinal center of each strap-like member in positon to support transformers in angularly spaced relation to each other about said pole,

c. vertically spaced attaching means on each said adaptor plate disposed to cooperate with said differently spaced mounting lugs on transformers,

(1. there being a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings through said strap-like members,

e. a pair of elongated bolts extending through selected ones of said openings through each said strap-like member disposed to extend adjacent opposite sides of a supporting pole with each said laterally bent end of said strap-like member being beyond said bolts,

f. a strap-like element for each bolt of said pair of elongated bolts with each said strap-like element 6 having an opening adjacent one end thereof for rei. a threaded securing member passing through the Celving its elongated bolt openings through said other ends of said strap-like g. a nut engaging the end of each bolt of said pair of elongated bolts securing the strap-like elements to said first strap-like member,

h. there being another opening through the other end memberof each said strap-like element,

elements, and j. at least one retaining nut engaging said securing 

1. In a transformer mounting assembly for supporting transformers having differently spaced mounting lugs, a. a pair of vertically spaced, horizontally extending straplike members disposed to extend along one side of a supporting pole with each strap-like member being bent adjacent the longitudinal center thereof to provide a concave pole engaging surface and being bent laterally adjacent the ends thereof to extend alongside and in spaced relation to the sides of said pole, b. an adaptor plate carried by each laterally bent end of said strap-like members with a third adaptor plate mounted adjacent the longitudinal center of each strap-like member in positon to support transformers in angularly spaced relation to each other about said pole, c. vertically spaced attaching means on each said adaptor plate disposed to cooperate with said differently spaced mounting lugs on transformers, d. there being a plurality of longitudinally spaced openings through said strap-like members, e. a pair of elongated bolts extending through selected ones of said openings through each said strap-like member disposed to extend adjacent opposite sides of a supporting pole with each said laterally bent end of said strap-like member being beyond said bolts, f. a strap-like element for each bolt of said pair of elongated bolts with each said strap-like element having an opening adjacent one end thereof for receiving its elongated bolt, g. a nut engaging the end of each bolt of said pair of elongated bolts securing the strap-like elements to said first strap-like member, h. there being another opening through the other end of each said strap-like element, i. a threaded securing member passing through the openings through said other ends of said strap-like elements, and j. at least one retaining nut engaging said securing member. 